Means for properly forming staples around a gathered end of a flexible container



Aug. 29, 1967 J. VILUTIS 3,337,935 MEANS FOR PROPERLY F MING STAPLESAROUND A GATHERED END OF A FLEXIBLE CONTAINER Filed May 27, 1966 3Sheets-Sheet 1 IO 50 AIR SOURCE V I V V 27 I5 l5 Aug. 29, 1967 1.. J.VILUTIS 3,337,935

MEANS FOR PROPERLY FORMING STAPLES AROUND A GATHERED END OF A FLEXIBLECONTAINER Filed May 27, 1 966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. J. VILUTIS 3,337,935MEANS FOR PROPERLY FORMING STAPLES AROUND A GATHERED Aug. 29, 1967 ENDOF A FLEXIBLE CONTAINER I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 27, 1966 UnitedStates Patent 3,337,935 MEANS FOR PROPERLY FORMING STAPLES AROUND AGATHERED END OF A FLEXI- BLE CONTAINER Leonard J. Vilutis, 517 E. 166thPlace, South Holland, Ill. 60473 Filed May 27, 1966, Ser. No. 553,337 7Claims. (Cl. 2933.5)

This invention relates, generally, to flexible container closing andsealing apparatus and it has particular relation to automatic control ofthe operating time cycle thereof. It constitutes an improvement overwhat is commercially available as Clipper Model C106 of Tipper TieDivision of Rheem Mfg. Co. of Union, N.J., which carries a nameplatebearing reference, among others, to US. Patents 2,879,512, issued Mar.31, 1959 and 3,115,733, issued Dec. 31, 1963. v

The Tipper Tie machine above referred to can be employed for applyingstaple fasteners to the gathered ends of flexible containers formed ofplastic film which maybe empty or may be filled with a food product orthe like. The gathered end is manually positioned in a throat inoverlying relation to a stationary die. Then a valve is opened manuallyto supply air under pressure to an air motor for operating a springbiased piston to move a die toward the stationary die. The movableforming die picks up a staple from a magazine and moves it to straddlethe gathered end and into engagement with the stationary die to form thestaple into sealing engagement around the gathered end. An additionalair motor is arranged to operate a spring biased knife to cut thegathered end adjacent the staple formed therearonnd. The second airmotor is supplied with air under pressure to operate the knife againstthe spring biasing it after a slight delay on opening of the air valveto the first mentioned air motor. On manual closing of the air valve,the knife is retracted by the spring of the second air motor and themovable die is retracted by the spring in its air motor.

Difiiculty has been encountered in the formation of the staple aroundthe gathered end of the container. If the manually operable valve is notheld open for a sufliciently long time, the staple will not be fullyformed to properly seal the container. On the other hand, if the valveis held open too' long, the staple will be over formed and grip thegathered end too tightly with the result that the container may bepunctured.

The valve is spring biased to closed position and is opened by amanually operable lever. Unless considerable care is exercised, thelever may be variably operated time- Wise in the respects noted to formimproperly the staple around the gathered end of the container.

In accordance with this invention a spring biased latch is arranged toengage the manually operable lever, when it has been moved to open thevalve, to hold it open, thereby requiring no exercise of judging by theoperator respecting the time that the valve is held open. The latch isreleased by a detent carried by the knife in its forward or cuttingstroke. The detent engages the latch and moves it out of latchingengagement with the lever. The valve then is closed by its spring to cutoff the supply of air to both air motors. The respective springs returnthe movable die and the knife to their initial-positions with the staplehaving been properly formed around the gathered end of the container andthe cycle of operation having been carried out, after initiationthereof, automatically and independently of anything that the-operatordoes.

Among the objects of this invention are: To provide for applying sealingstaples around the gathered ends of containers uniformly and properlywithout requiring the exercise of any particular. skill or judgment bythe oper- 3,337,935 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 ice lator and performing thesealing operation; to latch the lever, that is manually operated to openan air valve and initiate the sealing operation, in the operatedposition and to unlatch it a predetermined time after the lever opensthe valve; and to unlatch the lever by operation of a knife that isarranged to cut off the gathered end of the container adjacent theformed staple.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view that illustrates themanner in which a stapling machine is modified in accordance with thisinvention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view through a gathered end of aplastic container around which a staple has been properly formed. FIG. 3is a view, similar to FIG. 2, and showing the staple that has been tooloosely formed around the gathered end. FIG. 4 is a view, similar toFIGS. 2 and 3, and shows a staple that has been formed too tightlyaround the gathered end of the plastic container. FIG. 5 is aperspective view of the lower end of a stapling machine that has beenmodified in accordance with this invention. FIG. 6 is a view, in sideelevation, of the modified stapling machine. FIG. 7 is a view, in frontelevation, of the stapling machine shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a viewtaken generally along the line 88 of FIG. 7 and shows the latchmechanism in the latched position.

In FIGS. 1, 5, 6 and 7 the reference character 10 designates, generally,a stapling machine which includes a base 11 and an upstanding framemember 12 which carries an air motor that is indicated, generally, at13. As seen in FIG. 1 the air motor 13 includes a piston 14 that isarranged to be retracted by a spring 15. Air for energizing the airmotor 13 is applied by an air valve 16 that is biased to closed positionby a spring that is indicated diagrammatically at 17 in FIG. 1. The airis supplied from a suitable source of compressed air as indicated at 18.A piston rod 21 is connected at one end of the piston 14 in the airmotor 13 and at the other end is connected to a movable die 22 that isarranged to form a staple 23 which is obtained from amagazine 24, FIGS.6 and 7, and is moved downwardly in a slot 25 and into a throat 26 inwhich a gathered end 27, FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, of a plastic container ispositioned. The gathered end 27 overlies the stationary die 29 at thelower end of the throat 26.

When the die 22 moves the staple 23 to a position around the gatheredend 27 of the plastic container, the lower ends of the staple 23 engagethe stationary die 29 and are turned thereby so as to embrace thegathered end 27 as seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

In order to cut oil the gathered end 27 adjacent the staple 23 after ithas been formed in the manner described, a horizontally reciprocableknife 32 is employed as shown in FIGS. 1, 6, 7 and 8. The knife 32 isconnected by a piston rod 33, FIG. 1, which in turn is connected to apiston 34 in a second air mot-or that is indicated, generally, at 35. Aspring 36 in the second air motor 35 serves to retract the piston 34 andthe knife 32. Compressed air for operating the air motor 35 is suppliedthrough a compressed air line 38 in which a time delay device 39 isinterposed, the compressed air line 38 opening into the upper end of theair motor 13 so that, when valve 16 is opened, air is supplied not onlyto it but also to the second air motor 35 through the time delay deviceor valve 39. The sequence of operation is such that the knife 32 isoperated to cut off the gathered end 27 of the plastic to the closedposition. The lever 42 is pivoted at 43 on the upstanding frame member12 to rotate about a horizontal axis. A connecting rod 44 is employedfor interconnecting the manually operable lever 42 and the valve 16.Thus, when the operating handle 45 at the distal end of the manuallyoperable lever 42 is moved downwardly, the connecting rod 44 is moveddownward 1y to open the air valve 16 and apply compressed air to the airmotor 13 and after a time delay provided by time delay device or valve39 to the second air motor 10 35 for operating the knife 32.

The stapling machine 10 as described hereinabove is representative ofthe Tipper Tie machine above referred to. Preferably the staplingmachine 10 is arranged to deform the staple as indicated at 50 in FIG. 2uniformly around the gathered end 27 of the plastic container. Such aformation of the staple as indicated at 50 may or may not take place,depending upon the length of time that the operator holds the operatinghandle 45 in the depressed position and the valve 16 open. FIG. 3 showsan improperly or loosely formed staple at 51 and indicates that thegathered end 27 is not sufliciently compressed to provide the requiredseal for the plastic container.

On the other hand, if the operating handle 45 is held down too long andthe valve 16 is held open too long, the staple, as indicated at 52 inFIG. 4, may be over formed or flattened with the folds of the gatheredend 27 firmly compacted together and making it likely that the containerwill be punctured due to the excessive sealing force applied by theimproperly formed staple 52.

In accordance with this invention, as pointed out above, provision ismade for making it unnecessary for the operator to exercise any judgmentin the time that the operating handle 45 is held in the depressedposition in opening the valve 16. For this purpose a latch mechanism,shown generally at 55, is employed. The latch mechanism 55 includes alocking lever 56 that is pivoted at 57 to rotate about a horizontal axison the upstanding frame member 12. The locking lever 56 has a laterallyextending arm 58 near its distal end that is arranged to engage ashoulder 59 on the manually operable lever 42, the shoulder 59 beingshown more clearly in FIGS. 1, 6 and 8 of the drawings. A coil tensionspring 60 is connected at one end to the arm 58 and at its other end at61 to the lower end of the connecting rod 44. In this manner the lockinglever 56 is biased to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG.6 toward the manually operable lever 42 and particularly into engagementwith the shoulder 59 when the operating handle 45 has been depressedsufiiciently to open the valve 16. As soon as the laterally extendingarm 58 engages the shoulder 59, it is no longer necessary for theoperator to exert a downward force on the operating handle 45.Accordingly, it can then be released.

The manually operable lever 42 is held in the operated position and thevalve 16 is held open until the second air motor 35 is energized and theknife 32 is moved forwardly to cut off the gathered end 27 adjacent thestaple that has been formed therearound. In order to release themanually operable lever 42 a pin or detent 64 is mounted on thehorizontally reciprocable knife 32. Near the end of the forward strokeof the knife 32 under the control of the second air motor 35, the pin ordetent 64 engages the lower edge 65 of the locking lever 56 and exertssufiicient force to move the laterally extending arm 58 of the lockinglever 56 out of latching engagement with the shoulder 59 on the manuallyoperable lever 42. As soon as this takes place the spring 17 in thevalve 16 rotates the manually operable lever 42 in a counterclockwisedirection and the valve 16 is closed. The spring 15 in the air motor 13retracts the piston 14 while the spring 36 in the second air motor 35retracts its piston 34.

The gathered end 27 with the staple 50 properly 4 formed therearound isremoved from the throat 26 and the operation is repeated.

From the foregoing description and drawings, it will be apparent that noparticular skill need be exercised by the operator in respect of holdingthe manually operable lever 42 in the depressed position to formproperly the staple 23. Instead, as soon as the operating handle 45 hasbeen depressed sutliciently far to bring the laterally extending arm 58of the locking lever 56 into engagement with the shoulder 59, theoperating force can be removed and the stapling machine then functionsautomatically to continue the forming operation for the staple 23 aroundthe gathered end 27 until it is formed properly as indicated at 50 inFIG. 2. This is accom- 15 plished at about the time that the knife 32performs its cutting operation and also brings the pin or detent 64 intoengagement wih the lower edge 65 of the looking lever 56 and moves thelaterally extending arm 58 out of engagement with the shoulder 59. Thespring 17 20 the returns the manually operable lever 42 to the initialposition and closes the valve 16. What is claimed as new is: 1. In amachine for fastening a gathered end of a flexible container by a staplefastener deformed between a stationary die and a die moved by an airmotor operated in response to movement of a manually operable leverlikely timewise to be variably operated to open and close an air valveto said air motor, the improvement which comprises:

latch means for holding said lever in position to hold said air valveopen to cause said air motor to properly form said staple between saiddies and around said gathered end of said flexible container, and meansresponsive to opening of said air valve for unlatching said latch meansto close said valve 3. predetermined time after said lever has beenoperated.

to open said valve. 2. The improvement in the machine according to claim1 wherein:

the latch means comprises a latch lever rotatable about an axis parallelto the axis about which said lever rotates and includes means engageablewith a shoulder on said lever and a spring biasing said latch lever tolatching position, and

the means for unlatching said latch means comprises a detent engageablewith said latch lever to rotate the same against the biasing action ofsaid spring and out of engagement with said shoulder.

3. The improvement in the machine according to claim 1 wherein:

a second air motor is connected to said unlatching means for releasingsaid latch means and is operated in response to opening of said valve,and

time delay means between said valve and said second air motor effectoperation of the latter a predetermined time after said valve is opened.

4. The improvement in the machine according to claim 3 wherein:

the latch means comprises a latch lever rotatable about an axis parallelto the axis about which said lever rotates and includes means engageablewith a shoulder on said lever and a spring biasing said latch lever tolatching position, and

the means for unlatching said latch means comprises a detent operated bysaid second air motor and engageable with said latch lever to rotate thesame against the biasing action of saidspring and out of latchingengagement with said shoulder.

5. The improvement in the machine according to claim 4 wherein:

the machine is provided with knife means operated by said second airmotor for cutting said gathered end adjacent said staple fastener formedas aforesaid, and

said detent is carried by said'knife means.

6. The improvement in the machine according to claim 1 wherein:

the machine is provided with knife means for cutting said gathered endadjacent said staple fastener formed as aforesaid, and

said means for unlatching said latch means is carried by said knifemeans.

7. In a machine for fastening a gathered end of a flexible container bya staple fastener deformed between a stationary die and a die moved byan air motor operated in response to movement to a manually operablelever likely timewise to be variably operated to open and close an airvalve to said air motor, the improvement which 5 of said flexiblecontainer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,694,198 11/1954 Frank 29-335 102,866,975 1/1959 Ine 2933.5 3,237,290 3/1966 Frank 29-335 RICHARD H.EANES, JR., Primary Examiner.

1. IN A MACHINE FOR FASTENING A GATHERED END OF A FLEXIBLE CONTAINER BY A STAPLE FASTENER DEFORMED BETWEEN A STATIONARY DIE AND A DIE MOVED BY AN AIR MOTOR OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF A MANUALLY OPERABLE LEVER LIKELY TIMEWISE TO BE VARIABLY OPERATED TO OPEN AND CLOSE AN AIR VALVE TO SAID AIR MOTOR, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: LATCH MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID LEVER IN POSITION TO HOLD SAID AIR VALVE OPEN TO CAUSE SAID AIR MOTOR TO PROPERLY FORM SAID STAPLE BETWEEN SAID DIES AND AROUND SAID GATHERED END OF SAID FLEXIBLE CONTAINER, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO OPENING OF SAID AIR VALVE FOR UNLATCHING SAID LATCH MEANS TO CLOSE SAID VALVE A PREDETERMINED TIME AFTER SAID LEVER HAS BEEN OPERATED TO OPEN SAID VALVE. 